The Seoul City government and the Seoul Tourism Foundation are expanding late-night operations of the popular gas balloon attraction, 'Seoul Moon,' to boost nighttime economic activity and increase tourist stay duration.
Starting in August and continuing through October, the operating hours for 'Seoul Moon' on Fridays and Saturdays will be extended from the previous closing time of 10 PM to 11 PM. From Monday to Thursday and on Sundays, the hours will remain the same, allowing boarding from noon to 10 PM.
This extension is designed to enhance visitor convenience during the cooler evening hours. Passengers will now have more time to enjoy the night views of major Seoul landmarks, including the Han River, Yeouido, Nodeul Island, and Namsan, from 130 meters in the air.
Seoul City anticipates that this adjustment will meet the growing demand for evening rides and significantly contribute to the revitalization of nighttime tourism in the Yeouido area, coinciding with cultural events at nearby Han River parks.
Since its opening in August 2024, 'Seoul Moon' has established itself as a key nighttime tourism destination, surpassing 100,000 cumulative passengers by May of this year. As of the 15th, the total number of passengers reached 108,474, including 40,726 foreign visitors. Notably, the proportion of foreign passengers has increased from 40.2% last year to 43.6% in the first half of this year. The city and the tourism foundation expect that the extended late-night operations will further attract international tourists.
Seoul City and the tourism foundation plan to analyze the outcomes of this year's late-night operations and consider extending the operational period from April to October starting in 2027.
Cho Seong-ho, head of the Seoul City Tourism and Sports Bureau, stated, "We are continuously expanding nighttime tourism content to make Seoul's nights a competitive tourism asset. Through the late-night operations of 'Seoul Moon,' we aim to create a Seoul that both citizens and domestic and international tourists want to stay in at night, enhancing our competitiveness as a global tourism city."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.